What is the difference between orthodoxy and heresy in Christianity, and how did orthodoxy and heresy emerge as Christian theology and Christology developed and evolved?  The history and origins of Christian heresy, just as the history and origins of Christianity itself, is actually a lot more nuanced and complex than it originally appears to be.

In this article, I explore the leading paradigms of atonement and salvation in Christianity, both mainstream and alternative.  I also make the case for my conviction that conventional Christianity, especially in its more conservative forms, has been too harsh and unforgiving in its understanding of sin, atonement, and salvation